Meet the Team
One thing we know for sure: every one of us gets SO MUCH joy from making fabulous things and teaching makers of all ages!
Founder & Creative Director
Erika Allen is the Founder and Creative Director of Make-Modern, and one of the local moms who first dreamed up the idea of a high-design crafting studio. With both a JD and a PhD, Erika has a true passion for creating projects that teach—helping students gain real skills, knowledge, and the confidence that comes from making something beautiful. When she’s not at the studio, Erika can be found remodeling her mid-century modern house, catching theater in the city, or spending time with her two grown sons and her very spoiled bulldog.
Current crafting obsession: The lucet knitting fork!
Erika Tyner Allen
Co-Founder & CFO
Laurie’s love for sewing never faded while she worked in finance and marketing earlier in her career. Now CFO and Director of Retail, not to mention the brains and skill behind our sewing machine curriculum, she previously launched and managed a successful accessories business in NYC before moving to the suburbs to raise her children. 13 years and 3 kids later, she came back to sewing machines and back to business. When Laurie isn’t in the studio, you can find her hanging with her kids or spending time outside doing just about anything.
Current crafting obsession: Sewing with vinyl + laminates
Laurie Duarte
Assistant Creative Director & Event Coordinator
Sara Brindisi comes to Make-Modern with a BFA in Fashion Design from Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD.) In addition to managing the Westport studio, she is the Director of our needles curriculum, expert designer of projects and planner of events! She is a trained fashion designer, knitter, crocheter, letter-er and all-around lover of making, and when Sara is not killing it at Make-Modern, she is probably cuddling her kitten Midge.
Current crafting obsession: Knitting mittens
Sara Brindisi
Director of Operations
Katie Schorr keeps Make-Modern running like a perfectly threaded sewing machine. As our Director of Operations, she manages everything from sourcing materials and prepping projects to enrollment and beyond—and still finds time to be an amazing teacher in the studio. Katie has a BS from Dickinson College and is also the resident animal whisperer, with cats, fish, and even a hermit crab at home (plus her fiancé, of course)
Current crafting obsession: Spinning